American businessman Joel Weinshanker, who manages the legacy and commercial operations associated with Elvis Presley, has taken control of the majority stake in the company that operates Bran Castle, Romania's most visited tourist attraction. The acquisition was revealed by documents reviewed by Profit.ro. Through his company Ad Populum, Weinshanker now holds 80% of the shares in CADB, the entity that operates Bran Castle.
Bran Castle: A Tourist Magnet
Located near Brașov, Bran Castle is one of Romania's most iconic landmarks and is internationally known as the castle that inspired the Dracula legend. The castle attracts thousands of visitors each year, making it a crucial part of Romania's tourism industry.
Ad Populum's Growing Empire
Joel Weinshanker is the founder of Ad Populum, a US-based conglomerate that has rapidly expanded through acquisitions in the lifestyle, gaming, memorabilia, and entertainment sectors. With this latest acquisition, Ad Populum has extended its reach into European tourism.
Shareholders and Management
Profit.ro reports that the American company VT Bran, founded by an entity from the Ad Populum group, acquired 80% of the shares in CADB. The remaining 20% is held by members of the Habsburg family and related heirs, including Dominic Habsburg-Lothringen. Following the transaction, Bran Capital Beteiligungs exited the shareholder structure. Steven Bieg, the chief financial officer of Ad Populum, now oversees the management of CADB. A superficies agreement was also concluded with the heirs of Bran Castle, securing their co-ownership of the property.
Representatives of Ad Populum did not respond to Profit.ro's requests for comment regarding their operational strategy for Bran Castle before the report's publication.
